Central Hudson Reminds Customers of Assistance Programs as Natural Gas Supply Prices Increase

Central Hudson is reminding customers of the various assistance programs and billing options available to help manage accounts as elected officials and energy experts continue to warn of elevated electric and gas supply prices throughout the winter months. The residential price for natural gas supply will increase from 73.8 cents per hundred-cubic-feet (ccf) in November to 87.5 cents per ccf, effective December 1.

"International, national and regional factors are expected to keep energy supply prices elevated throughout the winter, and we want our customers to be aware of the resources available to them," said Anthony Campagiorni, Senior Vice President of Customer Services and Gas Operations. "We understand the financial stress these rising costs can have on our neighbors and we are here to help. We will also continue to work with regulators and our elected officials to find ways to keep supply prices as low as possible."

Central Hudson purchases electricity and gas from third-party suppliers on behalf of full-service customers. These costs are not marked up and Central Hudson does not profit from them, meaning customers pay the same rates as Central Hudson for the energy they use.

Agencies like the New York State Department of Public Service, which oversees New York's gas and electric utility companies, and the New York Independent System Operator, which is responsible for managing the state's electric grid, have both issued similar warnings urging residents to prepare for elevated energy prices.

Energy Efficiency and Billing Programs

Customers can help manage energy costs in various ways, such as implementing energy efficiency measures and manage bill impacts by exploring their billing options.

Low-cost and no-cost efficiency measures homeowners can take to help manage energy costs include:

• Insulating ducts and hot water pipes where they run through uninsulated areas, such as crawl spaces, and repairing leaks in the duct system;
• Adding insulation, particularly in the attic;
• Turning down thermostats (each degree saves up to three percent on energy use);
• Keeping radiators and heating ducts clear of furniture to allow heat to circulate freely; and/or
• Sealing air leaks with weather stripping and caulk, which can save up to 10 percent on the use of heating fuels;
• Beware of using electric space heaters in lieu of a traditional home heating system. Space heaters can present safety hazards, and often require significant amounts of electricity to operate, drastically increasing usage and resulting in higher bills.

To avoid seasonal variations in energy bills, Central Hudson customers may enroll in the Budget Billing program. Budget Billing divides a household's average annual energy bill into 11 even monthly payments, with the 12th month's payment adjusted up or down to reflect actual usage and market prices. This program makes energy bills more predictable and can help in managing household budgets.

Customers may also wish to investigate fixed rate options for electric and natural gas supply offered by Energy Service Companies. Fixed rate options do not necessarily provide the lowest average annual cost but do serve as protection against market volatility and price spikes.

Payment assistance options are also available to qualifying customers. The federally funded Home Energy Assistant Program (HEAP) grants for the 2022-2023 are now available for qualified customers through April 29, 2023, or until funding is exhausted . HEAP grant recipients also qualify for Central Hudson's monthly Bill Discount program.

Central Hudson's Clean Energy Marketplace provides a resource for customers to learn about renewable energy options. Customers can save up to 10 percent on their utility bill while also investing in local clean energy projects. Residents and businesses may subscribe by visiting http://CleanEnergyMarket.cenhud.com to purchase a portion of the electricity produced by the project of their choice.

Other programs include Deferred Payment Agreements that help customers catch up by paying a past-due account balance in monthly installments, the Extra Security Plan which offers an extended billing due-date for qualified customers on a fixed income and the Good Neighbor Fund which provides last resort grants for families who have exhausted all other means of assistance, Learn more about Central Hudson's assistance programs by visiting www.cenhud.com/assistance.

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